MACEDONIA: ARCHBISHOP CORDES BRINGS A DONATION FROM POPE

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 1999 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum", went to Macedonia on April 22, where he brought a donation on the Pope's behalf to aid victims of the war.

"The Macedonian government," states the communique made public today, "expressed the great esteem for what the Catholic Church is doing in this country and, among other things, for the money personally offered by the Holy Father. ... The government appreciates the Holy See's commitment to a peaceful solution to the conflict, fully respecting the rights of all."

OP;TRIP MACEDONIA;...;CORDES;VIS;19990426;Word: 100;

JOINT CATHOLIC ORTHODOX COMMISSION POSTPONES MEETING DUE TO WAR

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 1999 (VIS) - The following communique will be made public jointly today by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Holy See Press Office. Addressed to the Catholic members of the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, it is signed by Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy and Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, co-chairmen.

"The Co-Chairmen, taking into consideration the present critical situation and the hostilities in Europe, have decided of common accord to postpone the scheduled meeting of the International Joint Commission for The Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, from June 6 to 15 1999, in Baltimore, (United States), to the year 2000 (June 6-15), for a better participation and for the benefit of this dialogue, while praying fervently in the Risen Lord for a peaceful and satisfactory to the tragic situation."

CON-UC;JOINT COMMISSION;...;CASSIDY; STYLIANOS;VIS;19990426;Word: 160;

CARDINAL JAVIERRE ORTAS CELEBRATES GOLDEN JUBILEE

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 1999 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Pope John Paul, written in Latin and dated March 24, 1999, to Cardinal Antonio Maria Javierre Ortas, S.D.B., on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on April 24. Congratulating him on his golden priestly jubilee, the Pope highlighted the cardinal's long years of service to the Church in diverse ministries.

JPII-LETTER;GOLDEN JUBILEE;...;JAVIERRE ORTAS;VIS;19990426;Word: 80;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Ariel Sharon, foreign affairs minister of Israel, accompanied by his wife and entourage.
- Cardinal Silvano Piovanelli, archbishop of Florence, Italy, on his "ad limina" visit.
- Four prelates from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on their "ad limina" visit (Ontario):
- Bishop Eugene Philippe LaRocque of Alexandria-Cornwall.
- Bishop John Michael Sherlock of London, with his auxiliary, Bishop Richard Grecco.
- Bishop Andre Vallee oF Hearst. - Archbishop Hector Gonzalez Martinez of Antequera, Oaxaca, Mexico.
- A group of ten prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference (Tuscany region) on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Gaetano Bonicelli of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino.
- Bishop Alberto Ablondi of Livorno.
- Bishop Alberto Giglioli of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza.
- Bishop Simone Scatizzi of Pistoia.
- Bishop Luciano Giovannetti of Fiesole.
- Bishop Edoardo Ricci of San Miniato.
- Bishop Giacomo Babini of Grosseto.
- Bishop Gastone Simoni of Prato.
- Bishop Gualtiero Bassetti of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepulcro.
- Bishop Mario Meini of Pitigliano-Sovana-Orbatello.

On Saturday April 24, he also received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.
- Archbishop Luis Robles Diaz, apostolic nuncio in Cuba.
- Archbishop Romeo Panciroli, apostolic nuncio.
- Bishop Sergio Goretti of Assisi, Italy, on his "ad limina" visit.
- Bishop Julian Voronovsky of Sambir-Drohobych of the Ukraines, Ukraine.
- Elliot Latevi-Atcho Lawson, ambassador of Togo, on a farewell visit.
- Professor Andrzej Rottermund, Poland, and his entourage.
- Cardinal Lucas Moreira Neves, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
- A group of seven prelates from the Italian Episcopal Conference of their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Giuseppe Chiaretti of Perugia-Citta della Pieve.
- Archbishop Riccardo Fontana of Spoleto-Norcia.
- Bishop Decio Lucio Grandoni of Orvieto-Todi.
- Bishop Franco Gualdrini of Terni-Narni-Amelia.
- Bishop Pellegrino Tommaso Ronchi of Citta di Castello.
- Bishop Pietro Bottaccioli of Gubbio.
- Bishop Arduino Bertoldo of Foligno.

AP; AL;...;...;...;VIS;19990426;Word: 310;

ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER INVITES POPE TO VISIT HOLY LAND

VATICAN CITY, APR 26, 1999 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration on the private audience this morning between Pope John Paul and Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon:

"(Minister Sharon) also had a meeting with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and, following that, there was a working session with Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, and Msgr. Celestino Migliore, under-secretary.

"In the meetings there was an exchange of viewpoints on the belabored peace process in the Middle East, on the conditions of the presence and activity of the Catholic Church in the country, as well as the cooperation needed in view of the celebrations of the forthcoming Jubilee Year.

"The invitation by Israeli authorities to Pope John Paul to visit soon the Holy Land was renewed."

OP;VISIT SHARON; ISRAEL;...;NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;19990426;Word: 150;